Australia to kill 2 million cats 'to protect native species'

Rt.com reports: The Australian government has announced a new controversial five-year strategy to save threatened native species. It plans to cull two million feral cats, which are said to pose a threat to Australian wildlife. “The feral cat will be listed as a harmful pest and hunted down through various methods,” said Greg Hunt, the Australian federal environment minister, while presenting the new strategy at a Melbourne zoo, International Business Times reports. “Culling methods will include baiting, shooting or poisoning,” he added. Australia’s first threatened-species commissioner, Gregory Andrews, attempted to explain the government’s position on national radio. According to Andrews, “It is very important to emphasize that we don’t hate cats. We just can’t tolerate the damage that they’re doing anymore to our wildlife ... Over 120 Australian animals are at risk of extinction from feral cats...